30 September 2011 – 09:22
I can no longer throw away paper scraps for it might become a part of my bestiary. It is quite spare at the moment (the papercutting part of it), but more imaginary animals will soon join the family.
It all began with a creamy chocolate candy: I started making truffles to hand out to family and friends at Christmas about five years ago and that offering called for a nice wrapping…
The first papercuttings were very basic. I made leaves and other simple forms as you can see in the image above. It eventually evolved into more complex creatures but never as intricate as these incredibly detailed works. I think it would drive me crazy to cut to such precision and as impressed as I am with these beautiful pieces, I also like the simplicity of my little beasts. I don’t know if it is due to their chocolaty origins, but they all turned out with round bellies.
Paper Works (PDF): contemporary artists and designers working with paper like Chris Natrop and Mariam Londoño.
Have a good weekend!
28 September 2011 – 08:47
Acrylic and ecoline on paper
The Shadows in music… This was filmed in the 60′s.
The resolution is bad but the simplicity and the lighting of the video are quite nice.
Shadow art, most of it made out of trash!
26 September 2011 – 09:26
Drawing underneath from Maxwell Loren Holyoke Hirsch
Ink on paper
Ink and acrylic on paper
Acrylic pen on stone
Following last Friday’s thought, here are different experimentations with the same form.
On another note: an interesting TED talk about doodling.
23 September 2011 – 09:41
Acrylic and collage on paper
Acrylic on paper
Ink and acrylic on paper
I like to play around with the same idea: different colors, textures, medium…
Every time I draw or paint (or use another technique), I always wonder: what if I had done it with another hue, or on a different canvas, or with another texture?
I think this is one of the reasons why computers seemed so attractive to me 15 years ago; getting so many different results with one drawing. I know that screen printing, lithography, etc. allows you to do that, but not quite as fast as a computer.
I experimented a lot on the computer over the years, to the point where I forgot that I could use brushes, pencils, scissors, etc.
It all changed a couple of years ago when a friend who also wanted to go back to the pencil and paper suggested that we do a thematic drawing each week. We would send our result by email every Sunday night (can’t get rid of the computer!). We did so for about six months. It was really hard at first, the muscles and head had forgotten how it works, but it grew fun and I started to look forward to this afternoon I spent drawing.
Unfortunately, this good habit did not last and we went back to our virtual worlds… Until eight months ago. I’m working hard to keep on using those brushes!
The three ladies above were made under the thematic Love and for the first time in many years, they were all made by hand!
21 September 2011 – 09:25
The next pictures were taken a while ago near the Mauricie national park. We visited this patch of land with one of our friends who was looking for a place to build her house. Some years later, she now lives in a beautiful little eco-house, surrounded by all that beauty.
A drawing also made some time ago, with dried autumn leaves…
Her work makes me think of autumn…
19 September 2011 – 06:47
Ink on paper
Watercolor on paper
Ink, acrylic and japanese paper on paper
A lot of furry and feathery friends have come out on paper lately as well as a few little creepy-crawly creatures.
I rarely use color, not that I don’t like it but I find it hard to master. However, when forms like these emerge on the drawing board, I sometimes venture a little bit farther than my usual black and white.
My creepy-crawly friends are nothing like these beautiful renditions of Claire Felloni or these rich boards of insects but I think we all are fascinated by their incredible variety of forms and the richness of their details. When you look closer, you discover little jewels: colourful, sometimes shiny, others velvety, wearing lace fineries, fur coats or armours.
This board from Ioannes Ionstonus shows the wide variety in the wold of bees
I would love to get my hands one one of these…
16 September 2011 – 08:15
A few years back, a few friends and we spent four days on l’Ile aux Basques. Located near Trois-Pistoles in the St-Lawrence estuary, this tiny island has become a heritage site for its natural resources and rich historical assets. It is said that almost 230 species of birds can be found on the island.
I don’t remember seeing that many birds, but I can recall the repetitive visit of a very friendly seal. He was there to greet us at the same time every evening while we were having dinner.
There are only two cabins on the Island and you can rent them for a maximum of four days. The place is really enchanting, especially when the mist hides the other side of the estuary. It feels like being at the end of the world, in a good way!
We all grew up far from everything sea related, so urchins (amongst other things) were a constant source of wonder. We picked up many which ended up as our table centre-piece and eventually on our drawing board.
Little urchin person by Chantal F.
The scenery is amazing and the atmosphere of the island follows the mood of the estuary. Everything can change in a blink of an eye.
We loved to go to the far side of the island to enjoy the sunset.
On our way there, we often caught side of little furry friends in the paths.
On our way back to Montreal, we stopped for a coffee at “Le café du bon Dieu”. It resides in the old presbytery. A funny painting was adorning one of the walls. I had to keep a souvenir of it!
My boyfriend wrote a good story about this vacation. It’s available to read here (in French). There is more about our four days adventure, the history and toponymy of the island plus more photos!
14 September 2011 – 09:15
When I started drawing again last January, this is what came out… I do not know what my subconscious was trying to tell me…
More of these over here.
PS: I am still programming like mad and cannot wait for a break! My brushes and crayons are getting restless…
PPS: Love these… Especially the one with the black background.
